By Adaora Adibe
The Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) has achieved another significant milestone in its institutional development journey as it successfully obtained the ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System (QMS) certification following a comprehensive external audit exercise conducted by an International Accreditation Service (IAS)-accredited management systems certification body.
The five-day external audit exercise, held from October 20 to 24, 2025, at the Council’s ISO Centre in Abuja, marked the culmination of months of preparation and implementation of international best practices in quality management across all RMRDC departments, divisions, and units.
The certification process forms part of RMRDC’s broader commitment to strengthening internal systems, enhancing efficiency, and promoting service excellence. The QMS implementation began with sensitization and awareness sessions for directors, focusing on leadership roles, system ownership, and the need to institutionalize continuous improvement. This was followed by extended awareness sessions for Deputy Directors and Heads of Divisions and Units, with emphasis on documentation control, risk management, and corrective actions.
To drive ownership and sustainability, the Council appointed and trained QMS Champions across departments. These officers received specialized training on the ISO 9001 framework, documentation, internal auditing, and readiness assessments. Following these sessions, each department developed its Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), policies, registers, and quality documents in compliance with ISO clauses 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, and 10, covering context, leadership, planning, support, performance evaluation, and improvement.
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During the external audit, the IAS-accredited audit team conducted interviews, documentation reviews, and on-site assessments across all RMRDC departments, including Technology Development, Minerals and Materials Development, Agriculture and Agro-Allied, Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals, Planning and Policy, Investment Promotion, Administration and HR, Finance and Accounts, ICT, Legal and Board Services, Directorate of Corporate Affairs, Internal Audit, Procurement, SERVICOM, Anti-Corruption, National Competitiveness Strategy, and the RMRDC Training School.
The audit team commended RMRDC for its strong leadership, effective coordination, robust documentation, and willingness to improve. Observations were made in areas such as risk treatment documentation, change management tracking, and measurement of QMS objectives, which will guide future surveillance audits scheduled for 2026.
The audit concluded with no major or minor non-conformities recorded, a rare feat that highlights RMRDC’s compliance with international quality standards. The auditors consequently recommended RMRDC for ISO 9001:2015 certification, confirming the Council’s alignment with global best practices in quality assurance and service delivery.
The Council’s QMS Manager, Dr. H. C. Chinwenyi, alongside implementation leads Dr. U. C. Ugonna, Engr. O. N. Aduagba, and Mr. E. T. Atitebi, presented the audit findings to the Director-General/CEO of RMRDC, Professor Nnanyelugo Ike-Muonso, in the presence of the Lead External Auditor, Mr. Bolaji Oyekan, and his team. Also, in attendance was the recently retired Director of Planning, Statistics and Policy Department, Mrs. R. K. Kotso.
In his remarks, the Director-General Prof. Nnanyelugo commended the audit and implementation teams for their professionalism, dedication, and collaboration throughout the certification process. He reaffirmed RMRDC’s commitment to upholding quality management principles and ensuring continuous improvement in all operational processes.
“This certification is not just an achievement, it is a reaffirmation of our commitment to institutional excellence, efficiency, and global standards,” Professor Nnanyelugo stated.
With this certification, RMRDC joins the ranks of leading institutions recognized for implementing structured quality systems that enhance service delivery, stakeholder satisfaction, and organizational performance.
